Recipient schools of infrastructure projects may decline requests for them to be used as COVID-19 isolation facilities, the Department of Education (DepEd) said Monday.
The DepEd issued the instruction to officials and school heads to ensure improvement of education facilities will continue amid the health crisis.
“DepEd is expecting infrastructure projects to start in the third quarter of 2021, which will require the use of the school premises for the construction or repair of school buildings. Thus, schools may cite this reason for declining requests,” the department said in a statement.
“In addition, with cash-based budgeting in place, these projects need to be completed by the end of 2021 to avoid the lapsing of funds.”
If the school is large enough to segregate the isolation area and the construction site, the school can still house the isolation facility provided that barriers are in place, the DepEd said.
If the school has a limited area to cater to both the isolation facility and the construction of school buildings, it must coordinate with the local government unit (LGU) and ask for the immediate transfer of the isolation facility to a nearby school that is not a recipient of infrastructure projects.
LGUs are currently using some schools as isolation facilities and vaccination sites as part of government efforts to curb the spread of COVID-19.
“The department is one with the national effort to curb the surge of COVID-19 cases and hopefully putting an end to the pandemic. However, we must also ensure that the needs of learners are met including the establishment of adequate, safe, and conducive learning facilities,” DepEd Undersecretary for Administration Alain Pascua said.—AOL, GMA News
